St. Nicolai Notes

Prayer for Lent - Day 7 - Wednesday (February 24, 2021)
Gospel Reading: Luke 4:22-30

     Jesus, the people in your home town were encouraged and amazed by your teaching. You raised their hopes, and, for a moment, caused them to look beyond their present circumstances as villagers caught in the web of a powerful empire. For a moment, they thought that God's reign was breaking upon them in a new way. Then . . . they remembered who You were and realized that they had known You as a little boy, and concluded that You were speaking about things of which You possessed no knowledge. Instead of appeasing them, You stoked their anger by telling about God's compassionate works among foreigners whom they despised.

     Jesus, many of us are initially encouraged and amazed by your teaching. You raise our hopes about God's new reign coming among us by your Spirit. But when You identify your role as bringing hope and renewal to those who are stuck on the margins of society, typically without resources and without the ability to manage their lives as we expect of them, we hesitate. We really balk, when You ask us to practice solidarity with the weak, wounded, and victimized, as You did.

     Many of us are full of doubts when You challenge our preference for the wise, rich and powerful people among us. Many of us are full of doubts when You challenge the central place we have given to wealth, in both our personal lives and our society. At times, we openly challenge your call to compassion, justice, and peace. We want what will put us in the most secure position possible, at least for the short term, even if it means resisting You. So we often resist.

     Forgive us! Give us understanding of your way among us. Give us energy and resolve to learn what You teach and to follow where You lead. Amen.